HOW IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD FARING FROM YOUR END?

Psalm 73vs 28; But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, That I may tell of all Your works.

A relationship with God cannot be over emphasised. A lot of times we under rate it. A song writer says the holy spirit is more real than the air he breaths. It's the truth!

 A lot of people believe in the existence of God, they are Christians but it's difficult for them to accept the fact that God is actually near. Your relationship with God is based on how you see God. At this point i will ask, Who is God to you? Do you believe he is close as the bible says? Or as people testify? What is it that is hindering you from experiencing this closeness?
Have you ever felt so close to God at a point in your life then later something happens that makes it feel like God is completely far away? I mean, you concluded that when people say God is close, they are probably exaggerating it. Sometimes this can happen and then we end up keeping malice with God that it's difficult to hear him again, because we've driven him far away. God never left.
One could also unconciously keep him at a distance when they stop meditating or fellowshiping.

Just as other relationships with people needs you to spend more time with them to understand them and understand what they mean when they speak, thats how it is with God. You need to spend time with him. Just like relationships with people that requires you to be quiet sometimes to hear them speak, while spending time with God, you need to be quite for God to speak sometimes. Also, be opened to the fact that God can choose to speak to you through any means or anybody he chooses and at any time.

There are several things that can hinder us
from hearing from God. The most common is noise. There is just so much noise. Your life may just be so noisy that its difficult to actually hear when God speaks and when you go to the place of prayer, you would probably be doing most of the talking. It can be to the extent that you are just religiously talking and you are not even concious of what you are saying maybe because you believe prayer is all about you doing the talking. Imagine going on a date with someone you want to get to know and all they do is talk about themselves without giving you a chance to speak.
 Another noisy place is the mind. Sometimes, our minds are far more busy than we are physically busy.

Have you ever had a best friend? Like  a close friend you loved dearly and you felt you could completely trust? How were you two relating? How did they make you feel? Can you apply that in your relationship with God? When you have this kind of  a relationship with God, you do not necessarily need to go to the place of prayer before you can hear from him. He can just speak to you any where and anytime. God is always willing to speak but how you are opened to hear is important as well.
Please do not miss out on having this relationship with God, it is a privilege. It is so sweet and life saving. You may not realise it, but God is a total romantic! He can't actually help it😁.

Even the things you think are too absurd to talk about or ask, he wants to know about them. The amazing thing is, there is a twenty four hour access.

I don't know exactly what is stopping you from hearing from God or what it is you think is. if you can figure it out, do and pray concerning it and  if you can't, pray to him concerning it.

Study the word of God, it's the easiest and simplest way to hear from God. It's very precious.

 God's love amazes me a lot of times and his love is totally uncomparable. Go talk to your best friend
Acts 17 vs 27;
that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;

DON'T GET DISTRACTED

What are you focused on? A lot of people who are walking with God are not completely focused on him. They walk with God with their egos at the forefront, it may be a concious or subconcious act.

This is actually based on how one sees themselves and then their focus is shifted. They think they need something to hold on to and make them feel complete.
It can be noticed when they are serving God. What comes to their mind is; What do people think? Were they able to impress this people? Can their ego be boosted with this? Are they elevated before people's eyes by what they do? It's like using God to get approval from people or to get fame and some people don't know they are doing it.

 Don't get me wrong, it's different from when one is concerned about their works and if it reflects the righteousness of God, or how their works are able to change the heart of men and bring them to God.

As believers, our essence, existence, service and totality is in Christ. Hence, we should see our selves through Christ. That's how God sees us. We should understand that our service is to God and he sees the heart. If one's focus is based on what's on the outside, only what the eyes can see or what they think makes them complete outside Christ, once they are stripped off these things, they tend to crumble and their self esteem gets hit. For example, you are a good singer and then you wake up one morning and realise you are not able to sing anymore. What is going to be your reaction? What will you fall back on? Will you believe that you are complete?
Without those things you feel makes you who you are, will you still believe you are complete in Christ? Think about it.
These things don't actually complete you. They can be lost just as beauty fades and do not forget God always has a plan. It could also be that you think a human being is what makes you complete.
Galatians 2 vs 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Aside seeing our completeness in other things, we may be tempted to see ourselves through our imperfections and forget that God's strength is made perfect in our weaknesses. It is about seeing your self above every fleshy or physical imperfection and being focused on your perfection and identity in Christ. This is how we ought to see other people too. Colosians 2 vs 10 says; and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.

You are valuable, you are loved. You don't need to seek out something to make you feel complete because you have already been made complete in Christ. You may lose something but you haven't lost your completeness. Have faith in this, be rightly focus and rest on the completeness that Christ has given to you.

A TALE OF TWO HOUSES, WHICH IS YOURS?

There were two friends named Joyce and Sandra who were set to go on a vacation outside the country after obtaining work leave. They were to spend three weeks in Atlanta, USA. Sandra and Joyce had separate houses they lived alone in.  Joyce granted permission to a friend who had a business to do in town to stay over at her house when she would be gone.

On the day of the trip, Joyce got to Sandra’s house as early as possible as she did not want to be late for their trip. When Joyce got to Sandra’s house, she realized Sandra had not yet packed for the trip. They had just two hours to get to the airport and the airport was 1 hour 30 mins from Sandra’s house. This left the two friends no other choice but to hurry as much as they could so they would meet up with time. They eventually got to the airport, almost late but were able to catch up.

As a result of rushing to the airport, Sandra had forgotten to close her windows and her back door (she wasn’t even aware of this) and it was raining season. She lived alone, so no one was able to help. Joyce did not have the same issue. She made sure her windows were properly closed, her doors as well and Joyce also had a friend who was to come stay at her place while she was gone.  That evening, it rained so heavily and the rained leaked into Sandra’s house especially the sitting room which was the most exposed. The furniture was soaked, the entire house as well, everywhere was quite a mess. The next day in the afternoon, the sun shone and Sandra’s house was aired, only to a small extent though. Joyce's house windows were opened at the right time by her friend who came to stay and was locked when the rain came.

For three weeks, rain leaked into Sandra’s house. By the time she came back, she was shocked and devastated by what had happened. Her furniture, even if it was aired those afternoons by the sun that shone into the room was damaged as a result of the continuous exposure to rain and it got worse. Some of her properties were swept away by the rain because the house was a bit flooded too. Her house was half empty as a result and her furniture was damaged. The power source was cut off because the rain destroyed the entire wiring of the house, everywhere was dark and cold.

Now, this story is not to scare anyone but it can be applied to our minds and this is to show how the mind works. Joyce’s house is the mind that has a lock (control) over it, it is selective of what it allows in and as a result, this mind is sound. The individual with this mind grows progressively as a result of their mindset. Let’s say the happened to be a day that Joyce’s friend forgot to close the windows and it rained into the house, she would air the wet furniture after the event and would learn her lesson then close the windows next time it rains. A sound mind may on one or two occasions may let in inappropriate thoughts, but is conscious enough to shut down these thoughts when it realizes itself and then allow only positive thoughts (positive thought has a way of airing out bad thoughts too). Sandra’s house, this mind has experienced letting in inappropriate thoughts, but as a result of lack of control or continuous exposure or the ‘’untrue good feeling’’ it brings, these thoughts keep coming in. Please note that inappropriate thoughts include lustful thoughts, fears, worries, anger or grudge, negative thoughts, etc. When these thoughts keep coming in without being filtered out, this mind is weakened progressively (for the medics, you would say it’s like a chronic disease but some experiences may not require it to be chronic though). This mind may get flooded with the negative thoughts and as a result suppress the prior positive mindset of the individual and then weaken their minds. The furniture in Sandra’s house got damaged and the house cannot function properly or be used. The individual with this mindset may become inactive as a result of a poor mindset. The individual is likely not to utilize their full potential as well for one reason or the other which may be as a result of disbelief in themselves.

Even if the exposed house did not have rain leak inside, the fact that it was opened to anything means it was opened to any stray animal or persons or even to thieves. When a mind is not controlled or exposed, stray thoughts as a result of wondering can come in and can dwell when the individual allows it. The exposed mind can become cold as a result of continuous exposure to these thoughts and just as the exposed house is after the power source is cut off, the individual becomes depressed and withdrawn.

This brings us to where the bible says we should be transformed by the renewing of our minds in Romans 12 verse 2. The mind affects the working or functioning of an individual. What the mind feeds on determines an individual’s personality. We as believers have perfect spirits but we require a continuously renewed mind. What do you think on? Are you letting yourself get burdened? Do you feel you are in bondage of your thoughts? Do not be afraid, it’s never too let to fix all of this. What’s very important is your determination and willingness to let go of this thoughts. Some thoughts may not be bad per say but are inappropriate because they eventually become burdensome. Example, when you are concerned about having a life partner that it begins to bother you every day and drive you to desperation at your own risk or you become so distracted that you are more focused about looking for a life partner in everybody that crosses your path than in pursuing what’s more important at the moment. Or being very concerned about the future that you forget to live in the present. These are important matters but it’s good that when you think about them, you pray about it, trust God and let it go while following God’s plan for your life. Next week, we will discuss fixing the exposed house and precautions to not become like the exposed house and contributions will be gotten from selected people regarding this issue.

You can also leave your contributions in the comment section on how you overcame the mind battle or your concerns regarding this.

Thank you and have a great week.

ACTIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH GOD PART 2

Hello, I will love to assume you have read Galatians 3. This is a basic study of the remaining verses and other bible passages will come in for better understanding.

One way we can neglect the gift of God which he promised and he has kept this promise is when we choose to live by the law. One reason to decide to live by the law is unbelief in the gift of Christ to us, unbelief in the gift of righteousness by faith and rather believing righteousness comes by works. Ephesians 2:8-10a says for by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. One thing about believing your works justifies you is that when you make mistakes, you begin to work so hard with the aim of pleasing God to erase them and then you unconsciously are blinded and can’t see that Christ paid the entire debt (past, present and future). After trying to justify yourself by your works, you realize that’s it’s not enough and then you can’t forgive yourself because you feel you’ve not been forgiven when the truth is that you’ve been forgiven already! When you can’t forgive yourself, the process continues and then you begin to feel unworthy to come before God’s presence and then you live miserably. If you read the book of Leviticus, you will realize how much effort, detail and time where made to sacrifice different animals to cleanse man. As decribed in Leviticus, with all the sacrifices done (not performed just anyhow, but very detailed and carried out with so much instructions). I was wondering "and this was never enough?". The best of the animals were sacrificed. The rules and regulations put in place for living were highly selected and man was punished for even the slightest mistake made.

 The law was given by God through Moses as a result of man’s transgressions. Hebrews 10 vs 1 ''The law is only a shadow of the good things to come, not the realities themselves. For this reason, it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near’’. Verse 3 of this same chapter goes on to say that this sacrifices were an annual reminder of sins. Hebrews 7 vs 18-19 says ’’The former regulation was set aside because it was weak and useless. Verse 19 says ‘’for the law made nothing perfect, and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God’’.

From all this bible passages, it is evident that God knew man couldn’t save himself by his works. The sacrifices of animals couldn’t perfectly and permanently save man either. He knew that only him(God) was perfect enough to save man once and for all(what manner of love). Read John 1 vs 1 and verse 14.  Hebrews 1 vs 3a  says ‘’The son is the radiance of God’s Glory and the exact representation of his being.’’  Christ is God that came in our form to die for our sins. Hebrews 10 vs 10 ‘’And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE for ALL’’.  Verse 14 of Hebrews 10 goes on to say "For by one sacrifice he has made perfect FOREVER those who are being made holy’’. Unlike the annual sacrifices a perfect one was offered once and for all to perfectly and permanently cleanse us. 

Someone may now ask "Does it mean a believer should go on sinning because his sins have been covered for?’’ Romans 10 vs 17 says ‘’Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ’’. For one to have believed, they must have heard the message, had an understanding of the person of Christ and of his finished works. They should know they have a new nature, the sinful nature is gone. Once, a person receives Christ, he receives the Spirit of God that quickens him unto righteousness and he must yield to God's spirit. Hebrews 10 vs 16 says the laws of God will be put in our heart and written in our hearts. Before, this righteousness was being seek for but now it is what you are. The bible calls us the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. With this revelation, a believer can’t be a sinner because his/her name and status has been changed. Sinning is no longer your nature. God doesn’t know you any longer as a sinner, he sees you in Christ’s covering, he sees you as perfection because an exchange has been made and old things are passed away.

Another person may ask ‘’What do you then do when you find yourself doing what a righteous person should not do?’’. First of all, it’s important to fully understand that Christ has paid the price for your sins that even when you make mistakes, you understand that you can’t perform any more sacrifices because you were cleansed once and for all and you remain clean. You should understand that your cleansing was in Christ and only him can help you. Hence, look up to Christ. The spirit of God is always willing to guide us and it’s important to yield to God’s spirit at work in you. Be willing to his spirit and soon you will only hear the voice of God. The spirit of God reminds you of your nature when you are going out of line (note that he doesn’t condemn you but he disapproves). The word of God is more than efficient to renew our minds and when our minds are renewed, our thinking is renewed and then our actions. Meditate on, study and proclaim the word over your life. The word of God doesn’t go unaccomplished.
When one recently accepts Christ into their lives, they are righteous but coming into the full knowledge of who you are and what you have in Christ is a process that you must be committed to, majorly by studying the word of God. Proverbs 4 verse 18 says'' The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day''.

Finally, trust in the finish works of Christ. Understand what your nature is all about and know that God doesn’t see you as a sinner regardless and that the righteousness of God is at work in you.

Verse 27 of Galatians 3 says that we are being baptized into Christ, it means we are being initiated into the totality of Christ. Being seen as Christ, there is no more differentiation regardless of race, tribe or gender. We all are joint and equal heirs with Christ in the kingdom

The purpose of this is to help you understand what Christ has done so you can willingly accept a relationship and partnership with God. God bless you!

ACTIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH GOD PART 1

Happy new year everyone, i'm so excited about this new year and for everything God has in store in us.

Today, we study mainly the book of Galatians chapter three (3) and the first four verses for part 1 of this message but subsequently, other reference bible passages will come in. I encourage you to look up the bible passages.

As believers, partnership with God is inevitable. We are now in partnership with God. Christ came and died, he resurrected victoriously to crush that hedge and make us sons who work in partnership with God. Once we've accepted Christ into our lives, we receive the Holy spirit and we no longer walk by ourselves but with the Holy spirit.The reason for the person of the Holy spirit, aside other things is to be our guide. He guides us into understanding God's word and how to work by it and he reveals to us his will. The Holy spirit guides us into the revelation of the person of Christ (when you seek to know Christ, you seek to know more of who you are. If you are not living up to that, by the working of the spirit you are consciously made to live up to that revelation).

Maybe it has happened that in our walk with God. When the tides comes, we loose focus of the companionship of the Holy spirit. The truth is, the Holy spirit is the person you need when everything seems to be going wrong or out of place, when it feels like you are loosing focus or when you feel like involving him may waste your time concerning a particular matter. If you feel you are loosing focus and the Holy spirit is kept away, you tend to loose focus more because he is actually the guide you need. You may know the path that you should walk in but if you do not know how you should walk, you walk blindly and will never really get to your destination. At a point, diversion may occur to a totally wrong path.

Sometimes, we want to validate that the way we do our things are more proper, especially when it comes to our own efforts. When we are immersed in this thinking, we tend to disregard the spirit of God. Or it could happen that the spirit of God has given us focus on how to go about something but our self validation on how it should be done comes to play and we end up beating around the bush before, eventually getting to the destination.  Afterwards, frustration comes in because we tend to struggle. God wants a partnership and wants to do things with us but sometimes doing it by ourselves is the only way it makes sense to us.

One way in which the spirit of God guides us is by teaching us. Many people do not love the process of being taught because it involves correction which may be intense at times and it may involve taking a step at a time or those who allow themselves to be taught do not take note and are not observant, they are just passive learners. When we actively partner with God, we tend to be very alert and then we have a revelation of what God wants to do next. I'ts possible that as a passive learner, you may not be alert to know when God wants to involve you in something or even when it is laid out clearly, you may not see it and even when seen, you choose to ignore. Life is much easier and more peaceful when you partner with God.

Human intelligence is good but it is limited. When you are led by the spirit of God, you will have insight that human intelligence cannot grant. People who have experienced this can testify.

Hence, when walking with God, be an active learner not a passive learner.
Finally, you should ask yourself this ''Am i actively or passively walking with God?''.

By next week, we will continue from here with the part two of this message.

OUR CONFIDENCE IN GOD

OUR CONFIDENCE IN GOD

Hello. Happy new year to you as this is my first post this year. It's a fruitful year for us all.

PSALM 23 (NIV)
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

A shepherd is someone who guides a fleet of sheeps, A shepherd protects his sheep from adversaries, He guides his sheep on the right path, provides for his sheep and disciplines his sheep when necessary. The context shepherd is used here because in relation with the sheep, it gives a good understanding of the confidence we have in God. The shepherd makes provision for the sheep that the sheep only has to trust and follow(obey) him to enjoy this provision, The sheep knows the voice of the shepherd. When the shepherd does all of this, the sheep isn't in want. The shepherd also fights away predators and thieves to protect his sheep. A sheep is of major priority to the shepherd. The shepherd works and also guides his sheep to make his sheep productive. The shepherd sheep relationship in this scripture shows a very deep bond.

In regards to verse 2, green pasture signifies abundance, riches, flourishing, good health and growth. There is a term there i want you to note "he makes me to LIE down in green pastures". The shepherd makes the sheep to be at rest in abundance, in good health and the shepherd feeding the sheep with good pasture enables it to grow. There is a difference between being in rest and being in unrest. There was a point in my life, that when I had to write exams I would be so nervous during preparation till I got to exams hall, mostly due to the notion I got about my course and scare from lecturers. As a result of anxiety, I would forget what I read, I prepared so hard for this exams. It got to a point that I failed a course because I was anxious and forgot everything. But now, I would have an exam, even those that are announced late and I have few days to prepare, I'm usually in my most chilled mood as i prepare and then it's all good in the exams hall and my results thereafter. The first case is unrest and the second is me doing everything from a point of rest and trusting God. Verse 2b says "he leads me besides still waters". I see a lot of movies where people who are hurt, in pain and worry go to the beach for a sense of calm and quiet. The waves, the water, the cool breeze and the beautiful sunlight of the ocean is calming. What I'm getting at is God leads us in a path of stillness and peace and we ought to see i..

Accepting Christ into your life as a believer restores your soul, renews your mind and you are alive in the spirit in Christ, the journey is between you and God, He holds your hands to show you the path to follow, you become a new person and as a result God leads you in that path of righteousness. He renews you from the inside out. 
1 John 4 vs 4 "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world". As Christians we've overcome the world, we don't have to do anything the world's way but we do it according to who we are, the righteousness of God, working in the spirit.

Verse 4 can be understood as well with the above scripture. John 6 vs 33 also reads "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
The advantage we have in Christ is that no matter the trails and temptations we face, walking through the valley of the shadow of death, we ought not to fear, because we are over comers. God is an aggressive shepherd willing to fight for his sheep. In fact, the scriptures above says we've already over come, we come out stronger and victorious. God doesn't want you hurt and even when you go through trials and you overcome victoriously, you also realize how much you've grown from it. God is always with us and we must have confidence in that, that's why when you are going through trails and you decide to trust God, you are at peace and things always fall in place. Fear is a tool that blinds us from seeing who we are and what we have and what God has done. You know if a sheep doesn't trust the shepherd, It's risky. For instance, a predator comes and the sheep decides to run from the shepherd's protection as result of fear and distrust in whom there's an assurance of safety to seek for its own safety that it won't find,. The sheep has been blinded by fear and can't think straight. The predator may take advantage of the situation because this sheep doesn't know what it has. God not only is he with you but he lives in you.

 A rod used by a shepherd is more like to keep them in the right tract, discipline, correct the sheep and fight away predators but here the rod used in this context emphasizes more on correction and discipline. God's word is our rod of discipline and correction (2 Timothy 3 vs 16), and this discipline is comforting to us (Thy rod and thy staff they COMFORT me) because it's all done in love. God is the father of Spirits and he disciplines us in the spirit (Hebrews 12 vs 9), he will not inflict anything on our flesh as a form of discipline. A staff is a symbol of authority, it shows kingship and lordship. God is the King of kings and the lord of  lords and as heirs, we share in this royalty.

In the midst of trails, God has made a way and that's the table he sets in the presence of our enemies ( trials, troubles, foes etc.)

Before we were formed,  God already knew us and what he wanted us to be. We've been anointed before hand. In abundance of grace that this overflows and we have more than enough for any time or moment.

God's goodness and mercy follows us wherever we go, it doesn't get exhausted. His love embraces us all the time. And having received Christ, we have become his temple, he dwells in us, and this is eternal. He lives in us and we in him.
Hallelujah!

SPIRITUAL GROWTH

Today I will be writing about spiritual growth. This will include personal teachings by the Holy spirit and excepts from Pastor Abel Damina's wednesday meeting teaching. 

Spiritual growth doesn't mean the spirit grows, because the spirit that you received is already perfect. Spiritual growth cannot be mentioned until there's a new birth. 

Spiritual growth has to do with growing increasingly in the knowledge of Christ and your responsibility as a believer. Increase in the knowledge of your identity in Christ. 

The question now is, Where does spiritual growth happen? Spiritual growth happens in the mind of the regenerated man. The mind is the center of knowledge, this is why emphasis is made more and more on knowledge because that is where spiritual growth is.
Romans 12 vs 2:
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

The extent of the renewal of your mind is the extent to which you have grown spiritually.  Read further 2nd corinthians 3 vs 18.  

The word of God is the diet for spiritual growth. 2nd Timothy 3 vs 16-17: 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

 Spiritual growth entails growth in the spirit of your mind - the attitude of your mind. Ephesians 4 vs 23: And be renewed in the spirit of your mind. 

Changing, altering or repositioning the attitude of your mind. The attitude of your mind also involves how you see yourself as a believer. Spiritual growth is evident in the working of your mind. A spiritually mature person minds the things of the spirit. Romans 8 vs 5: For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh but they that are after the spirit, the things of the spirit.

Growing to maturity enables us to do the work of the ministry. 

The mind is powerful in relation to the body. The attitude of the mind or state of the mind determines what the body does or what expressions the body displays ( that is why when one worries, the eye dims). The mind involves our thoughts which can be reflected in the activities of a person. If the mind is configured to be pessimistic, the body may respond in that direction. If a person believes he or she cannot perform a particular task or they believe doing those things may not produce the result they should, the body sees it as an instruction to avoid them and so there's no progress. 

The mind is the strength of the body, that is why what the mind feeds on is important. The most important food for the mind is the word of God, studying the word and speaking forth over your life. The word of God is powerful to change one's state of mind, thoughts and actions.The Holy spirit works in an individual to the understanding of the word of God. The word of God enriches your mind and so you grow spiritually. The word of God reveals to you truth because it is truth. The word of God makes one aware of the power they have in Christ. 

The gateways to the mind are the eyes and ears. The important thing about this gateways is that what goes in can be controlled. What one reads or listens to is important. Sorround yourself mostly with individuals who are in one accord with you, that is why fellowship is important. When you study the word of God in fellowship, there's giving and taking. Also worshipping and feasting in fellowship is good. 

DO IT!

So last night, I just kept thinking of how much the years have gone by. You know, its one of those things you think about when your birthday is near. My birthday is coming up this October and before last night all I could think about was doing a photo shoot.  But last night, I felt different. I realised I had plans, some I've started and I have been sleeping on and some haven't been put to work yet. I felt somehow about it. I thought I would have felt better if I had done this things at this present age, yea...but you know 28 of Oct is already here and this present age is PASSING. So I was like "Okay, you need to start working on them now, you're still gonna feel good, Infact much better about it when you accomplish them". Just finish what you started and start what you didn't start.

I have plans and visions which are quite big but I realised visions wouldn't make you big no matter how big they are until they are visualised with the physical eyes  rather than the mental eyes.

I'm  thankful for how far I have gone this year, Honestly, it's been challenging but I know it's been a really successful one. Though I have lagged behind somehow. I'm still very thankful.  I started with having visions in September through December. Some of them seemed impossible to achieve especially when I had to consider several factors (which by the way was a big lie, you can achieve anything you want to). Looking back I've accomplished most of them. I thought i wouldn't be able to take up a leadership mantle of being an Editor-in-chief of Abuad Medical Students Association due to several reasons (too many reasons or excuses not to try something will only make you blind to the fact that it's possible ). I refused to give up on that dream. It wasn't easy but it was worth it. There are so many things I have done and trust me, if I had to listen to certain people tell me I couldn't, self doubt or other people's doubt about themselves I wouldn't be able to do them. I'm stronger than last year, much happier, my eyes have been opened to certain truths, I've stood up for myself than I would have before, more confident and trust me I've learnt alot. I've followed several paths God has been stretching his hands to show me since, I've made progress in fiction writing. All this is because I told myself, you gotta get things done.

I'm still climbing the ladder, trust me there are rough edges. Some days you may not even want the sun to see your face because of challenges but you gotta tell yourself something  " if I have to glow, I need to step out there, right under the sun, let it shine on me and make me glow before the world.

You gotta try once, try twice, try again and again and keep trying till you get there . God has put it in you, Just get up and get things done!

I had alot to handle late last year and this year, but also I realised I had enough time on my hands to finish some things I did start and start a new hobby I didn't start. I have a writing competition to enter for and it's due this October but I have not submitted my piece yet because, I have been waiting for the right time to do it. The truth is i have had several right times. Something really scared me when I realised I haven't actually made use of the time I had so I said to myself.

" Hope I don't wake up one day when I can't move my legs easily and get myself off the bed smoothly like the good young days and realise my dreams are still bottled up in a corner of my mind" This is October, soon November and then December. You are never too old or too young to start something, Youthfulness most of the time is about the mindset not physical qualities and also know your mindset actually can make you young on the outside.
2 Peter 1 vs 3 "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness".

If God has given you several gifts and visions then put them to work. You can do it, God wouldn't give you something you can't handle or do. You're a King/Queen. Most importantly, let God lead and show you the way and keep holding his hand through all of it. Get up and get things done!